Moistening means for duplicating machines



Jan. 19, 1954 R. M. FORD MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1952 33 r-IO o 47 49 5 INVENTORI M 14/ 2MBY f ' rrys FIGZ Jan. 19, .1954 R. M. FORD 2,666,412

MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jan. 19, 1954 R. M. FORD 2,666,412

I .-MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed March l8, 1952 sSheets-Sheet 5 INVE NTOR I WWW.

Arr J for the copy sheets.

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 .MQISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES RonaldMax Ford, Olton, Birmingham, England I Application March 18, 1952,Serial No. 277,174

Claims priority, application Great Britain March 21, 1951 3 Claims. (01.118-267) The present invention relates to duplicating machineshereinafter referred to as of the kind specified in which copy sheetsfed into the machine are moistened therein by a liquid andar'e broughtinto pressure contact with a master sheet supported upon a mastercylinder or equivalent,

.said master sheet having matter to be reproduced marked thereon inreverse.

The invention may, for instance, be applied to duplicating machines ofthe kind having a pair of side frame members connected together inspaced relationship and supporting the spindle of a cylinder to whichthe master sheet -is secured,'the machine also having a pressure rollerfor pressing the moistened copysheetsinto contact with the master whenthe cylinder is revolved.

The object of the present invention isto provide improved means forcontrolling the feed of liquid to the moistening member or applianceThis moistening member or appliance may consist of'a pad of absorbentmaterial over which the copy sheets are drawn,

or it may consist of a roller over which the copy sheets pass.

According to the present invention, a duplicating machine of the kindpecified has the copy sheet= moistening member supplied with liquid bymeans of a distribution device fed from a tank which is adapted to bemoved periodically by automatic means or otherwise from'an inoperativeposition in which liquid from the tank is prevented from being deliveredto said distribution device to an operative position in'which a gravityfeed for the'liquid is established between the tank and said device.

The tank may be mounted for oscillation about a horizontal orapproximately horizontal axis and has one or more flexible or jointedpipe connections e'ach'leading from an outlet in the tank to saiddistribution device, said outletl'or outlets being above the liquidlevel when the tank is in its inoperative position and below thisilevel'when the tank is in itsoperative-position. Y

The gravity feed may be established or facilitated by the provision ofan air inlet duct or opening on the tank so positioned, as to admit airto the space in the tank above theliquid only when the tank is intheoperative position.

A manually operable lever or other member may be provided for efiectingperiodic movement of the tank to it operative position.

' Alternatively tank displacement mechanism driven from or inpredetermined relationship to the master cylinder orother rotary.element of 2 the machine is provided for moving the tank automaticallyto its operative position when the machine is operated.

Referring to the drawings: I

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a duplicating machine of the kindspecified incorporating one form of moistening means according to thepresent invention.

13 Figure 2 is a plan view of the same construc- Figure 3 is across-sectional view in side elevation of the same construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showingone end of the liquid containing tank and also the connecting pipe andair duct at this end.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view on anenlarged scale and partly inlongitudinal cross-section showing the construction of the liquiddistributing device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation and in cross sectionshowing one form Olfmechanism for operating the moistening meansautomatically, these moistening means being of the form illustrated inFigures 1 to 4, and

The duplicating machine illustrated in the drawings is of generallyconventional construction apart from the moistening means forming thesubject of the present invention and such machine thus comprises a pairof side frame members l0 supported in laterally spaced relationship bycross members H, the whole form.- ing the supporting framework'orstructure for the working parts of the machine. The machine furthercomprises a master cylinder I! or known type which is adapted to supportaround its circumference a master sheet, the exterior face of which hasmarked thereon in hectographic carbon or some other suitable medium thematter to be reproduced on the copy sheets, this matter appearing inmirror image or reverse on the master sheet.

At the front of the machine a conventional form of table or tray I3 isprovided above the inner end I4 of which is disposed a moistening memberor appliance in the form of a pad l5 of which the forward lower portionI 6 is exposed to the in-feed path [1 by which the copy sheets passbetween the printing couple constituted by the master cylinder l2 and apressure roller l8 disposed beneath it and engaging with it. A presserbar or member I9 extending laterally across the width of the copy sheettable 13 is supported beyond the inner extremities of this table upon alever arm 20 or other suitable means and provided in the member 2| isdisposed a distributing device 25 for the moisis adapted in any suitablemanner not illustrated to press the copy sheets against the portion 16of the moistening pad when the machine is operated.

Thus far described the machine is of conventional constructionand itwill, of course, be understood that verywidely difiering forms ofconstruction of the parts mentioned as well as difiering relativepositions for these parts may be adopted without departing in any way.from the scope of the invention.

The moistening pad 15 is supported in a frame constituted by an upperlaterally. slotted member 2| beneath which is secured a plate 22,.theouter end of which is turned inwardly as illustrated to form a guide atthe'entrance to the in-feed path I! for the copy sheets, the upper Meansare provided for rotating the tank through an appropriate angle, forexample, in the range 60 to 180 in the direction indicated by the arrow43 (Figures 3 and 4) so that the fitting 36 is brought below the liquidlevel 32 and a quantity of liquid is delivered from the tank through thepipe system to the distributing device under the influence of gravityand is projected from the nozzles 21 on to the exposed surface of thisplate serving to support the end surface of the moistening pad.

The upper surface of the moistening pad is exposed through the laterallyextending slot 23 and above. this slot tening liquid such as spirit.

, This. moistening device, a fragment of a tubular member 25, the lowerside of which outlets or orifices 2.6 which may have downwardlyprojecting nozzles 21 with flared or bell-shaped mouths 28.

This tubular member is supported at its ends in suitable plates orbrackets 29 secured to or formed integrally with the lateral extremitiesof the frame member 2 I I and above the distributing device is provideda sheet metal guard 3|).

. At the rear, of the machine and on the side of the master cylinderremote from the moistening pad and. liquid distributing. device isprovid'ed a tank 3| for containing spirit, a fragmentary view of one endof this tank being shown in detail in Figure 4, the normal maximum levelof the liquid therein being indicated by the dotted line 32'. This tankis of elongated cylindrical form and at each end is provided withcylindrig of which f is illustrated indetail in Figure 5, may consistcal spigots such as that shown at 33 by means of which the tank isjournalled rotatably in the side frame members l0 about a horizontal orapproximately horizontal pivotal axis.

At its upperside the tank is providedat a suitable position along itslength with a'filler fitting enclosed by a cap 34 and exteriorly thesurface of the tank adjacent to the master cylinderis provided with aplurality of spaced triangularjsection ribs 35 which avoids extensivecontact between the master sheet of the surface of the tank such asmight be inclined to deteriorate the quality of the matter appearing onthe master sheet.

Abovethe normal liquid level 32 of the tank the latter is provided ateach end with a liquid outlet fitting 36, these fittings being connectedto the distributing device by a pipe system comprising a pair offlexible pipes 3.1, the lower ends of which are joined to crankedextensions 38 and the distributing device.

To prevent creation of a partial vacuum in the space 39. above theliquid level 32 which might occur if a large quantity of liquid were.required to be delivered from the tank to the distributing device, thetank is provided at one end at least with an air inlet duct 4fl, one endof which 41 communicates with the interior of the tank below the normallevel 32 and the other end 42 of which is open to the atmosphere.

pivotally mounted in upper surface of the moistening pad I5.

Rotation of the tank from the inoperative position illustrated in Figure4 to the operative position thus described serves to displace the end 4]of the air duct to a position above the liquid level 32 but since theintervening portion 44 of the airduct which is of curved form and liesadjacent to the periphery of the tank, always has a part remaining abovethe liquid level, any liquid contained in this duct automatically runsback into the tank during said rotation, and, when the tank arrives atthe operative or discharging position, the air duct is clear of'liquidand allows air to pass into the space 39 to relieve any partial vacuumwhich may have been set up.

For eflecting rotation or oscillation of the tank as described, thearrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 illustrates the provision of a lever45, the inner end of which is pivotally secured as indicated at 46 toone of the side frame members and the outer end of which 41 has a fingerpiece which projects rearwardly of the machine. Intermediate its endsthe lever is slotted as shown at 4% and in the slot engages the pin 49of a crank arm 50 fixed to the end of the tank spigot 33.

A coiled tension spring'5l' serves to bias orload the lever in theraised position illustrated in Figure 1 and thus serves to maintain thetank normally in the inoperative position; The lever may be depressedwhenever a fresh supply of moistening liquid is required to be deliveredto the moistening pad, the operator judging for him or herself when thisis necessary;

The system illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is capable of automaticoperation, as shown in Figure 6.

The actuating mechanism may take the form 'of a reciprocating member 56having slots 51 at cylinder shaft 63 by means of which the latter is"driven from a pinion 64. v

The gear 62 rotates in the direction of the arrow'65 and. the peg 6!thus periodically effects a reciprocation of the. member 58- drivingsame in an upward direction to oscillate the tank in the directionindicated by the arrow 66. Return movement is accomplished by anysuitable bias ing means such as a coiled torsion spring on one of thetank spigots.

What I claim then is:

1. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified, means for moisteningcopy sheets, comprising a moistening member disposed adjacent to thein-feed path of the copy sheets, -a liquid distribution device-arrangedin operative relation with'said moistening'member, a tank for containingmoistening liquid, said tank being the machine about an approximatelyhorizontal axis above the level of said distribution device, an outletin said tank disposed above the normal liquid level thereof, a pipesystem connecting said outlet to said device, means operativelyconnected with said tank for moving same from an inoperative position inwhich said outlet is disposed above said level to an operative positionon which said outlet is disposed below said level, and, an air inletduct on said tank having one end communica ing with the interior of thetank below said liquid level in the inoperative position of the tank andabove said liquid level in the operative position of the tank said ductbeing open to the atmosphere at its other end and having an intermediateportion of which part at least is always disposed above said liquidlevel, so as to drain any liquid back into the tank when moving from itsinoperative to its operative positions.

2. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified, means for moisteningcopy sheets, comprising a moistening member disposed adjacent to theinfeed path of the copysheets, a liquid distribution device arranged inoperative relation with said moistening member, a tank for containingmoistening liquid, said tank being movably mounted in the machine inmountings permitting the orientation of the tank to be varied, an outletin said tank disposal above the normal liquid level thereof, a pipesystem operativeh,

connecting said outlet to said distributing device; means operativelyconnected with said tank for varying its orientation from an inoperativeposition in which gravitational feed of liquid from said tank throughsaid pipe system is prevented to an operative position on which suchfeed is established and said tank having an air inlet duct communicatingat one end with the interior of the tank below said liquid level in theinoperative position of the tank while having an outlet to atmosphere ata level above said liquid level and an intermediate portion of alongitudinal configuration to afiord a gravitational drainage path backinto the tank for liquid in said duct while the tank is in transit fromits inoperative 4 to operative positions in the latter of which the ductestablishes communication between the atmosphere and the interior of thetank above the liquid.

3. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified, means for moisteningcopy sheets, comprising a moistening member disposed adjacent to theinfeed path of the copy sheets, a liquid distribution device arranged inoperative relation with said moistening member, a tank for containingmoistening liquid, said tank being pivotally supported in the machineabout a substantially horizontal axis within the immediate zone occupiedby the tank, an outlet in said tank disposal above the normal liquidlevel thereof, a pipe system operatively connecting said outlet to saiddistributing device; means operatively connected with said tank forvarying its orientation by rotation about said axis from an inoperativeposition in which gravitational feed of liquid from said tank throughsaid pipe system is prevented to an operative position in which suchfeed is established and said tank having an air inlet duct ofsubstantially C-shape arranged at least approximately concentricallywith the axis of rotation of the tank and communicating at one end withthe interior of the tank below said liquid level in the inoperativeposition of the tank, while its other end is open to atmosphere at alevel about said liquid level, the intermediate portion of the C-shapedduct affording a gravitational drainage path back into the tank whilethe tank is in transit from its inoperative to operative positions, inthe latter of which the duct establishes communication between theatmosphere and the interior of the tank above the liquid.

RONALD MAX FORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,067,289 Ritzerfeld Jan. 12, 1937 2,342,524 Bennett Feb. 22,1944 2,492,377 Camphouse Dec. 27, 1949 2,612,105 Skinner Sept. 30, 1952

